Important Notice

Initially trained as a painter at the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai, Sudarshan Shetty's oeuvre straddles diverse mediums, ranging from painting and photography to kinetic sculpture and installation art. A recurring theme that bridges his art across these multiple genres is the deliberately whimsical and irrational juxtaposition of everyday scenes and objects in his works, as seen in the present lot.

In Praise of Shadows, one... Initially trained as a painter at the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai, Sudarshan Shetty's oeuvre straddles diverse mediums, ranging from painting and photography to kinetic sculpture and installation art. A recurring theme that bridges his art across these multiple genres is the deliberately whimsical and irrational juxtaposition of everyday scenes and objects in his works, as seen in the present lot.

In Praise of Shadows, one of a series of photorealistic interiors painted by the artist, depicts a quotidian environment-perhaps a modern office setting as indicated by the polished floor, the fashionable set of chairs and a set of windows that provide glimpses into further interior spaces. What subverts this seemingly ordinary image is the floating skeletal frame of a fish swimming in the air above.

By constructing such bizarre worlds, Shetty offers his viewers an alternate reality to escape within, or even be amazed and amused by. At the same time, this work also challenges viewers to cross-examine the 'ordinary', instead of taking it for granted.

In doing so, these works serve to free the viewer, if even for a moment, from the routines and impositions of daily life.

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